TOURISM LAW AND COMPETITION – A PORTUGUESE PERSPECTIVE 441 incentives, when compared to other Member States. As regards specifically state aid policy, in 2020 there was wide discussion not only by academia67 but also at the level of the Commission68 and by representatives of the Member States69 on the deepening of the asymmetries between Member States resulting from several circumstances such as the financial strength and approach concerning the measures to combat the COVID 19 economic crisis as is detailed hereunder. As regards the touristic sector and specifically concerning State aid measures, there are numerous examples of the huge differences on the support provided by “wealthier” Member States. On 27 May 2020 the overall impact of these measures led to the presentation by the European Commission of a “major recovery plan proposal for Europe” (NextGeneration EU) with the aim of ensuring that the recovery is sustainable, balanced, inclusive and fair for all Member States70. In July 2020 and following widespread debate regarding the goals of the European Union, a special European Council summit led to the endorsement of both the recovery plan for Europe and the multiannual financial framework for 2021-202771) . This was sealed with the European Parliament on 10 November 2020 and finally on 17 December, the 2021-2027 package was adopted by the Council72. Its 67 See, for instance, “A Moment of Truth for the EU: A Proposal for a State Aid Solidarity Fund” by HYPERLINK “javascript:;” Alfonso Lamadrid de Pablo and HYPERLINK “javascript:;” José Luis Buendía, “Editor’s Note – State Aid inTime of Cholera” by José Luis Buendia Sierra, reference DOI https://doi.org/10.21552/ estal/2020/1/3 and also https://voxeu.org/article/eu-state-aid-policies-time-covid-19. 68 See, for instance, the views of the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen in https:// www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/ec-president-warns-state-aid-is-unlevelling-the-playing-field-ineurope and of Vice-President and Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager https://www.euractiv.com/ section/competition/news/vestager-discrepancy-in-state-aid-distorts-single-market-hampers-recovery/. 69 See, for instance, https://www.ft.com/content/a68bfd0d-47c7-46ec-ac87-20b8b67ddc32. 70 See the European Commission’s press release, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/ detail/en/ip_20_940. 71 See the European Council’s press release, available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu -recovery -plan/. 72 Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, published in the OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 11–22 and Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, published in the same OJ, p. 23-27. Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources, also published in the OJ of the same day, p. 28–46. And Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget, also published in the OJ of the same day, p. 1-10.
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